French, Samuel Bassett (1820-1898) to Robert E. Lee
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02736 Author/Creator: French, Samuel Bassett (1820-1898) Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph note signed Date: 18 March 1862 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 20 x 17 cm. Order a Copy
Informs Lee that the 130th Virginia Militia Regiment, commanded by John Williams, from Floyd County, in southwestern Virginia, has left for Richmond. Docket repeats the contents of the note. Verso also contains Taylor's autograph endorsement signed.
Lee had just recently been called to Richmond to be President Davis's principal military advisor. With Union armies on the offensive on the Peninsula, in the Shenandoah Valley, and north of Fredericksburg, it was incumbent upon Lee to work with the state militia to bring out all available regiments to help reinforce vital positions, especially the Confederate capital itself.
Samuel Bassett French was a Confederate officer.
Walter H. Taylor was an Assistant Adjutant General of the Army of Northern Virginia, and General Lee's chief Aide-de-camp throughout the war.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.